Journal of Counseling Research

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The aim of this study was to investigating the effectiveness of communication skills training on self-differentiation among referring couples coming to registered offices in Masjed Soleiman city to get married. In this study, four couples (eight men and women) were selected using voluntary-purposive sampling method. The research design was single-case experimental of multiple baseline type. In ten sessions, couples were trained communication skills, and completed the Self-differentiation Questionnaire after training stages. The data were analysed by visual drawing method, Reliable Change Index (RCI), and recovery rate formula. The findings showed that communication skills training led to increase of self-differentiation (26.43%) in general, 27.37% in the first, 20% in second, 28.18% in third, and 30.23% in fourth couples. These were maintained percentages in follow-up stage. The Reliable change indices showed a meaningful change and increases in self-differentiation in during training and follow-up stages. The training led to relative increasing of couple's differentiation, and separated feeling of logic.

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Objective: This study aimed to determine the role of general self-efficacy mediated the relationship between differentiation and social identity among students. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study, a correlation was performed. The study population were all university students of martyr Beheshti and Allameh Tabatabai, where 120 people were selected by convenience sampling. To collect the data, and differentiation (DSI), General Self-Efficacy (GSE-17) and social identities were used. Data using Pearson correlation coefficients and path analysis were analyzed.

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Abstract

Objective: the objective of present study is examining the causal relationship between attachment styles with marital commitment by mediation of differentiation of self and guilty feeling in married female students of Ahvaz city. Methodology: participants in this study were in total 211 married female students of Ahvaz city, which were selected using available purposive sampling. The instruments used in this study wereBehavioral Style Questionnaire (BSQ), Marital Commitment Questionnaire (MCQ), differentiation of selfInventory (DSI), conscious emotionsInventory. Evaluation of the proposed model was carries out using path analysis method. In order to test indirect relationships, boot-strap method was used. Findings: the results showed that from among 16 direct paths, 4 paths of secure attachment style to differentiation of self,  insecure attachment style to guilty feeling, guilty feeling to moral commitment and differentiation of self to structural commitment didn't become significant.Also, the results showed that all the indirect effects of copying styles (secure and insecure) and marital commitment with mediation of differentiation of self and guilty feeling became significant. On the other hand, indirect effects of secure attachment style and moral commitment with mediation of guilty feeling and indirect effects of secure and insecure attachmentwith structural commitment with mediation of differentiation of selfdidn't become significant. Better fitting thorough eliminating insignificant paths of secure attachment style to differentiation of self, insecure attachment style with guilty feeling, guilty feeling with moral commitment and differentiation of self with structural commitment were obtained. In this study, significance level was α=0.05. Conclusion: in a marital relationship, the level of differentiation and guilty feeling in either party of a couple and attachment style formed in individuals is effective for their marital commitment in their married lives.

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Purpose: This study was done to predict sexual communication based on attachment style and differentiation of self in married female students of Universities in city of Ahvaz. The 220 participants were selected through accessible sampling. Methods: The participants completed Wheeless & Baus Sexual Communication Scale (1984), Simpson Adult Attachment Scale Questionnaire (2003), and Differentiation of Self Inventory by Skowron and Friedlander (1998). For data analysis, descriptive methods, simple correlation coefficient, and step-by-step regression method was used. Results: The results showed a positive meaningful relationship between secure attachment style and my-position, with sexual communication. Moreover, secure attachment style, distressed attachment style, and   secure and distress element the component attachment style and emotional discord (p<0/001) are the best predictors of sexual communication.  Conclusion: According to the study findings, it seems that couples with secure attachment style and high levels of differentiation have higher satisfaction about their sexual communication, and consequently have more stable marriages.
 

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The aim of this study was to predict the feeling of loneliness and tendency to divorce based on attachment styles according to the role of mediation self-differentiation. This study is of descriptive method and the design is correlational based on path analysis. The study population included all divorce-seeking couples referring to branches 6, 7 and 8 and enforcement branch of family court in Shahre rey, Tehran in 2016. Using available sampling method, 200 subjects were selected. The data were collected using four questionnaires: The UCLA Loneliness Scale (Russell, 1996) Differentiation of Self Inventory (Skowron & Smith, 2003), Divorce Tendency Scale (Rusbult, 1986), and Adult Attachment Scale (Colins & Read, 1990). The results of the analysis were analyzed using structural equation analysis. Results: The results showed that there is a significant relationship between attachment styles with loneliness and tendency to divorce. There is also a significant relationship between self-differentiation with loneliness and tendency to divorce. Finally, attachment styles through self-differentiation can predict loneliness and tendency to divorce. Discussion and Conclusion: The research data with the proposed model has a perfect fit, so self-differentiation plays a significant mediator role in the relationship between attachment styles with loneliness and tendency to divorce.
 

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Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the probability of marital infidelity prediction based on the degree of self-differentiation, family function and couple burnout in couples living in city of Sanandaj, Iran.  Methods: The research was fundamentally objective and in terms of the method of data collection, a descriptive type that was carried out in the form of a prediction correlation scheme was used. The research sample included volunteer couples experiencing infidelity who had referred to the counseling centers and family courts system. Sample size included 357 individuals filling out differentiation, couple burnout and family function questionnaires. Results were analyzed with SPSS and hierarchical regression method. Findings: The results of the study showed differentiation (B= - 0/-73) and family function (B= - 0/43)  are negative predictors while marital burnout (B=0/31) is positive predictor for infidelity (p≤0/01). Cconclusion: Therefore, it can be said that training courses about differentiation and preventing couple burnout, and as a result increase in family functioning can prevent marital infidelity.
 

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Aim: The purpose of the present study was to determine the effectiveness of self-differentiation training on improving family process and content in demanding couples with contested divorce. Methods: A quasi-experimental design with pre-test, post-test and two-months follow-up with control group was used. The statistical population included couples who mutually consented for divorce, and had referred to the counselling clinic of Behravan in Qazvin in 2018. Ten couples (20 participants) were selected through purposeful sampling and assigned in experimental and control groups. Research tools included Samani’s (2008) family process and content questionnaire. Self-differentiation was administered for the experimental group in 10 weekly 90-minute sessions. The changes of family process and content was measured in posttest and follow-up and data were analyzed by repeated measurement. Results: Results indicated that self-differentiation significantly have promoted family process (P<0.01, F=21.14) and family content (P<0.01, F= 23.32). This effect was observed in follow-up, and four couples gave up the divorce requests (P>0.01, t= 0.01). Conclusion: self-differentiation training, thorough empowering couples, helps in moderating between reason and emotions; while differentiaton of self from original family, affects the functions of family process and content. Therefore, it can be used as an efficient psycho-educational package for improving the functions of family process and content in divorce demanding couples, and may helpprevent divorce

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Aim: The aim of this study was to explain the relationship between self-differentiation and forgiveness with marital satisfaction based on the mediating role of religious orientation. Methods: The research method was descriptive-correlational and the statistical population included all married teachers working in the sixth and seventh grade in Tehran's 6th educational district, with a total of 4,080 people, among whom 28 schools and 304 volunteer teachers were randomly selected. To collect research data, the following tools were used:  Differentiation of Self Inventory by Skowron, E. A., & Schmitt (2003), Family Forgiveness Scale by Pollard, Anderson, Anderson & Jennings (1998), Religious Orientation Questionnaire by Allport & Ross (1967), and ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Scale by Fournier, Olson & Druckman (1983) were used. After deleting 10 distorted questionnaires and 3 outliers, structural equation modeling was used for data analysis. Results: In this study, the direct path coefficient between internal religious orientation and marital satisfaction (P<0.01, β=0.337) was positive and significant at the 0.01 level. Indirect path coefficient between self-differentiation and marital satisfaction (β = 0.149, P <0.01) and indirect path coefficient between forgiveness and marital satisfaction (P <0.01, β = 0.129) were positive and significant at 0.01 level. Conclusion: Since internal religious orientation can be effective in improving relationships and marital satisfaction, it is suggested that in marital counseling, strengthening the religious beliefs of couples be used.

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Aim: The aim of this study was to test the structural equation model of relationships between attachment styles and self-differentiation with academic performance of university students with the mediating role of health-promoting lifestyle. Methods: The method of this research was descriptive and correlation type. The statistical population consisted of all undergraduate students of Shahid Beheshti University (1554 people) in the academic year of 2018-2019. The sample size was estimated to be 308 based on Cochran formula. Eventually 305 questionnaires were finalized. Research tools included the Self-Distinction Questionnaire (Skowron & Schmitt, 2003), the Adults Attachment Inventory (AAI) (Hazen and Shaver, 1987), the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile (Walker, Sichrist & Pender, 1995) and the Educational Performance Test (Pham and Taylor, 1999) were used and data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistical methods (Pearson correlation, path analysis and structural equation modeling) using SPSS 23 and AMOS 26 statistical softwares. Findings: The results showed that attachment styles and self-differentiation have a significant relationship with academic performance and these variables are able to directly predict academic performance (p<0.01). Promotional lifestyles can also play a mediating role between attachment styles and self-differentiation with academic performance (p<0.01). Conclusion: Regarding the relationship between attachment styles, self-differentiation and health-promoting lifestyle with academic performance, special attention to these variables is necessary to improve student performance.